Civilization (2010)
$59.95
2010 Civilization at a Glance
| Game Type City Building, Civilization, Exploration, Negotiation, Video Game Theme, Card Drafting, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Grid Movement, Modular Board | Play Time 120 - 240 mins | Skill/Complexity (4 - 5) Medium - Heavy |
| Age 13+ | Publisher(s) Fantasy Flight Games - 10 + others | Published 2010 |
| Categories Strategy | Players 2 - 4 | Cost $59.95 |
| Our Rating 8.6/10 | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
About – Description
The 2010 edition of Civilization: The Board Game was designed by Kevin Wilson and took inspiration from the video game series that was given a legendary status and created by Sid Meier.
The game has evolved and there could almost be three generations of this game with the first being released 2002, the second in 2010 and the more recent version in 2017 (A New Dawn).
The game is suitable for 2-4 players who are given the responsibility of taking a whole civilization through the ages, where they can find four different routes to success, although each route is filled with challenges along the way.
Who’s it best suited for?
This board game is very intricate and requires a broad understanding of what is required as well as a level of concentration. Due to the nature of this game, it is really aimed at teenagers and adults who enjoy playing strategy related console games.
The game requires plotting and planning and so, it does appeal to those who have experience of playing these kinds of games. It also takes a significant amount of time (at least 2 hours) to play until completion which makes it unsuitable to younger gamers who get distracted and bored easily.
Skill – Complexity
This is a rather complex game and it comes with a 32-page rulebook, which means that players really do have to commit to the game.
This is a heavy game and it can often take a minimum of two hours to play which means that you do have to put a lot of time and effort into it while considering the strategies that you require in order to succeed.
If you’re able to put the game down to rest and re-calibrate for a short period of time, or even come back to it a few hours later this is ideal as you’ll benefit from not having enough time to complete in one sitting or from just the break.
Set Up – Playing Rules & Instructions
Civilization has a lot to set up, including tokens, map tile, plastic units and many other components that form part of this game.
There are also 6 different civilizations to choose from and they all offer different levels of abilities.
As mentioned, there is a 32-page rulebook and so, that can take 20 minutes to read prior to beginning the game.
Each player begins with a number of options when it comes to choosing a civilization, all of which have a number of advantages that can lead them to victory. Throughout the game, players will aim to grow their city, move around the map and negotiate with players in order to try and become the most powerful civilization in the world.
Some players believe that choosing one victory condition from early in the game is the best option yet the expansions can help to improve the experience of the game.
Other Versions, Editions or Expansions Available?
This is a game that does have an element of history to it and the experience of success began with Sid Meier’s video games. The original was released in 2002 and due to its popularity, it was re-released and updated in 2010 before another version was released in 2017.
This (2010) Sid Meier’s Civilization board game edition also has two expansions of the game for the Civilization game pro’s. The expansions are Fame and Fortune (2011) and Wisdom and Warfare (2013) that both offer new civilizations, game options and plenty of enhancements to the 2010 original.
Likes & Dislikes
- Excellent Theme.
- Fans of the computer version should connect easily and really enjoy the board game version.
- City building is interesting within the game and the various paths toward victory make it engaging.
- Easy on the downtime for its long playing game. It’s engaging throughout.
- Plenty of depth within the game and takes a while to learn everything which gives it good replay value.
- Length of gameplay is too long for many players.
- Very rules heavy to begin with.
Civilization: The Board Game is certainly a game that divides the masses. It has a following that gives this game an almost cult-like status but many believe that the game can take too long to play, with many saying that they play it for over 4 hours at a time.
It requires a number of strategies to play and succeed and that seems to be a positive for those who immerse themselves into the game but commonly, the time seems to be an issue for most players.
Final Thoughts
This is clearly a board game that has captured the imagination of players from a number of generations and that is why it has been refreshed and re-released throughout the years.
It is a game that is aimed at a specific audience and so, it is not your family type of game but more for those who like to work through games with a methodical and logical approach. However, the time it takes to play it could cause problems for many.
